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Eugene Church · 07-19-2010, 11:03 PM

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

FC Lumberjacks Survives 6-team Race In RU West
It was a 6-team dogfight in the Ruthlandian West. Just about every team in the division had a chance to take home the pennant and the automatic slot in the postseason Pro Cup playoffs that determine the overall IPA champion. The Forest City Lumberjacks put the final touches on a fine comeback season by wrapping up the pennant with a 9-5 record in September. Only four games separated first place from sixth place. Runner-ups Fort Benton and Volusia both finished one game out of the top spot, Sligo was fourth and 2 games back, Rocky Rapids was fifth and 3 games out and Colfax ended up sixth, yet only 4 games off the pace in the tightly-bound division.

Last season Forest City (85-69) was deep in the second division in seventh place, but this year manager Rob Jackson got improved pitching and that was all the 'Jacks needed. 171 home runs (2nd) didn't hurt matters, either. Paul Crews (19-9 2.38) had a super season and got plenty of help from veterans Knucks Nomellini (19-15 2.48) and Al Thibaut (16-14 2.83). LF Joe Judlin (.320/35/115/102), 1B Andy Doiron (.329/12/69/92) and rookie CF Joe Callaway (.273/22/73/93/31 SB) led the potent attack. 8 Lumberjacks had 10 or more homers.

Manager Alfonso Feliz has a well-balanced ballclub in Volusia (84-70). Solid hitting and pitching carried the day for the Vigilantes as they climbed up from fifth place in 2012. Volusia almost caught champion Forest City with a strong 10-4 finish in the last month, but ran out of time and wound up one scant game behind Forest City. Hank Massey, a 39-year-old journeyman pitcher, had his best year by far with a 21-14 record and a 3.58 ERA. His best previous season was 9-7 in 2003. Alejandro Rio (14-8 2.80) and hard-luck Gerry Hersh (15-16 2.58) gave the V's two more valuable starters. Closer Paul Zenger saved 30 games and compiled a 4-5 mark with a terrific 2.10 ERA in 50 games. Volusia had good bats throughout the batting order, led by the sensational rookie CF Joe DeLucca (.295/24/100/88), 1B Rafael Garza (.337/13/65-64) and dependable RF Briscoe Crowder (.297/15/74/67).

Perrenial loser Fort Benton (84-70) made quite race of it, but a 5-9 record in September cost them the RU West crown. The Defenders came up one game short and tied for second place. Last year they were sixth and 19 games out. Much like Volusia, skipper Robbie Brooks had a good balance of pitching and hitting. Fort Benton had four capable starters in Ivan Gloeckner (19-6 3.36), Tucker Dawes (17-15 2.81), Tom Waltenbury (16-15 3.68) and Hal Neyland (13-15 3.73). Brooks also had a very reliable closer with David Osborn (6-3 2.88), who saved 23 games and registered a strong 2.88 ERA. The Defenders top run producers were rookie 1B Stretch Stookey (.292/9/64/88), 3B Rafael Lemos (.299/7/80/82) and LF Ryan Smith (.273/24/77/112).

It is hard to see how the defending division champ Sligo Rovers (83-71) did not prevail again this season with great stats - .267 batting average (5th) and a 3.34 ERA (3rd). Manager Eddie Keys seemed to have it all. The Rovers were close, just two games behind in fourth place. A poor second half did them in. Sligo was only 31-38 over the last three months of the season. Vinnie Rastelli (19-12 2.23), Dix Edenborough (18-13 3.37) and Roy Gaines (13-13 3.15) topped Keys' pitching rotation. Lack of a quality closer hurt Sligo. The Rovers bats had plenty of punch with the likes of RF Clell Renshaw (.311/21/89/82), CF Chris Michel (.295/14/82/86/34 SB), SS Vic Carlin (.262/25/96/83), LF Fred Collins (.280/25/81/113) and 2B Hollis Waldrup (.266/14/58/105/50 SB). As a team Sligo went deep 167 times (3rd).

Ryan Noland's Rocky Rapids Snappers (82-72) were one of the most improved teams in the IPA, but they still wound up fifth, but just 3 games out of first place. That the problem of playing in one of the strongest divisions in the IPA. Noland's Snappers did well at the plate and on the hill, paced by pitchers Herbie Drahm (19-11 3.42) and Ernie Watkins (13-13 3.48). Don Chaney (15-20 3.47) also gave Rocky Rapids another quality arm. Sparking the offense were a wealth of good hitters. 3B Paul Shelton (.298/38/122/98) had sensational season. Future Hall-of-Famers LF Scott Camden (.322/30/104/104) and C Hank Bethel (.289/26/98/80) were consistent contributors, along with CF Carl Johnson (.299/26/77/97) and SS Cooter Bermudez (.297/5/57/101).

The Colfax Blasters (81-73) are still a powerhouse, but Clem Rogers' talented crew ended up in an unlikely place this season - sixth place, but only 4 games off the lead. A drop in offense cost Colfax dearly this year. They hit only .247 (27th), down from .266 in 2012. Only CF Ryan Raines (.308/21/86/89) and C Joe Alexander (.255/28/102/81) had good years. On the mound Rogers still has a formidable trio of starters in Ilya Szabo (19-13 2.32), Jimmy Joe Cartner (19-11 2.87) and Jasper LaForge (18-10 3.72). A few hits here and there would have made a tremendous difference in their records. A faulty bullpen was also a big problem for Rogers. Dallas Somerville, a normally-reliable closer, had a lousy year with a 1-10 record with a 3.55 ERA and only 24 saves.

The seventh place Stoner Stars (70-84) are just a mediocre team and haven't made the first division since 2007, when they won the RU West flag. Manager Willie Dickens only has a few quality players. Rookie right-hander Billy Chapel really impressed the experts with a 20-13 mark and a 3.00 ERA. 38-year-old 2B Karol Zodoka, a bonafide Hall-of-Famer, can still handle the bat and the glove. Zodoka batted only .275, but scored 92 runs, hit 23 out of the park and drove in 83 runs, while playing like a Gold Glover. Dickens also has a find in rookie LF Mike Jaffe, who led the club with 26 homers, 89 RBIs and a .316 batting average. Jaffe also scored 86 runs.

The Middlefield Roosters (66-88) had a lot to crow about last year with a surprising jump from the basement to third place, but Smitty Michaels' ballclub quickly dispelled any ideas of grandeur this season with a quick return to the RU West dungeon and eighth place, 19 games behind. The Roosters top players were starter Danny Stewart (16-16 3.01), 2B Jim Rose (.268/25/76/89/25 SB) and CF John Hartung (.257/20/75/92/19 SB).

07-19-2010, 11:03 PM	#1820
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,869	The Islandian Times Tuesday, September 17, 2013 FC Lumberjacks Survives 6-team Race In RU West It was a 6-team dogfight in the Ruthlandian West. Just about every team in the division had a chance to take home the pennant and the automatic slot in the postseason Pro Cup playoffs that determine the overall IPA champion. The Forest City Lumberjacks put the final touches on a fine comeback season by wrapping up the pennant with a 9-5 record in September. Only four games separated first place from sixth place. Runner-ups Fort Benton and Volusia both finished one game out of the top spot, Sligo was fourth and 2 games back, Rocky Rapids was fifth and 3 games out and Colfax ended up sixth, yet only 4 games off the pace in the tightly-bound division. Last season Forest City (85-69) was deep in the second division in seventh place, but this year manager Rob Jackson got improved pitching and that was all the 'Jacks needed. 171 home runs (2nd) didn't hurt matters, either. Paul Crews (19-9 2.38) had a super season and got plenty of help from veterans Knucks Nomellini (19-15 2.48) and Al Thibaut (16-14 2.83). LF Joe Judlin (.320/35/115/102), 1B Andy Doiron (.329/12/69/92) and rookie CF Joe Callaway (.273/22/73/93/31 SB) led the potent attack. 8 Lumberjacks had 10 or more homers. Manager Alfonso Feliz has a well-balanced ballclub in Volusia (84-70). Solid hitting and pitching carried the day for the Vigilantes as they climbed up from fifth place in 2012. Volusia almost caught champion Forest City with a strong 10-4 finish in the last month, but ran out of time and wound up one scant game behind Forest City. Hank Massey, a 39-year-old journeyman pitcher, had his best year by far with a 21-14 record and a 3.58 ERA. His best previous season was 9-7 in 2003. Alejandro Rio (14-8 2.80) and hard-luck Gerry Hersh (15-16 2.58) gave the V's two more valuable starters. Closer Paul Zenger saved 30 games and compiled a 4-5 mark with a terrific 2.10 ERA in 50 games. Volusia had good bats throughout the batting order, led by the sensational rookie CF Joe DeLucca (.295/24/100/88), 1B Rafael Garza (.337/13/65-64) and dependable RF Briscoe Crowder (.297/15/74/67). Perrenial loser Fort Benton (84-70) made quite race of it, but a 5-9 record in September cost them the RU West crown. The Defenders came up one game short and tied for second place. Last year they were sixth and 19 games out. Much like Volusia, skipper Robbie Brooks had a good balance of pitching and hitting. Fort Benton had four capable starters in Ivan Gloeckner (19-6 3.36), Tucker Dawes (17-15 2.81), Tom Waltenbury (16-15 3.68) and Hal Neyland (13-15 3.73). Brooks also had a very reliable closer with David Osborn (6-3 2.88), who saved 23 games and registered a strong 2.88 ERA. The Defenders top run producers were rookie 1B Stretch Stookey (.292/9/64/88), 3B Rafael Lemos (.299/7/80/82) and LF Ryan Smith (.273/24/77/112). It is hard to see how the defending division champ Sligo Rovers (83-71) did not prevail again this season with great stats - .267 batting average (5th) and a 3.34 ERA (3rd). Manager Eddie Keys seemed to have it all. The Rovers were close, just two games behind in fourth place. A poor second half did them in. Sligo was only 31-38 over the last three months of the season. Vinnie Rastelli (19-12 2.23), Dix Edenborough (18-13 3.37) and Roy Gaines (13-13 3.15) topped Keys' pitching rotation. Lack of a quality closer hurt Sligo. The Rovers bats had plenty of punch with the likes of RF Clell Renshaw (.311/21/89/82), CF Chris Michel (.295/14/82/86/34 SB), SS Vic Carlin (.262/25/96/83), LF Fred Collins (.280/25/81/113) and 2B Hollis Waldrup (.266/14/58/105/50 SB). As a team Sligo went deep 167 times (3rd). Ryan Noland's Rocky Rapids Snappers (82-72) were one of the most improved teams in the IPA, but they still wound up fifth, but just 3 games out of first place. That the problem of playing in one of the strongest divisions in the IPA. Noland's Snappers did well at the plate and on the hill, paced by pitchers Herbie Drahm (19-11 3.42) and Ernie Watkins (13-13 3.48). Don Chaney (15-20 3.47) also gave Rocky Rapids another quality arm. Sparking the offense were a wealth of good hitters. 3B Paul Shelton (.298/38/122/98) had sensational season. Future Hall-of-Famers LF Scott Camden (.322/30/104/104) and C Hank Bethel (.289/26/98/80) were consistent contributors, along with CF Carl Johnson (.299/26/77/97) and SS Cooter Bermudez (.297/5/57/101). The Colfax Blasters (81-73) are still a powerhouse, but Clem Rogers' talented crew ended up in an unlikely place this season - sixth place, but only 4 games off the lead. A drop in offense cost Colfax dearly this year. They hit only .247 (27th), down from .266 in 2012. Only CF Ryan Raines (.308/21/86/89) and C Joe Alexander (.255/28/102/81) had good years. On the mound Rogers still has a formidable trio of starters in Ilya Szabo (19-13 2.32), Jimmy Joe Cartner (19-11 2.87) and Jasper LaForge (18-10 3.72). A few hits here and there would have made a tremendous difference in their records. A faulty bullpen was also a big problem for Rogers. Dallas Somerville, a normally-reliable closer, had a lousy year with a 1-10 record with a 3.55 ERA and only 24 saves. The seventh place Stoner Stars (70-84) are just a mediocre team and haven't made the first division since 2007, when they won the RU West flag. Manager Willie Dickens only has a few quality players. Rookie right-hander Billy Chapel really impressed the experts with a 20-13 mark and a 3.00 ERA. 38-year-old 2B Karol Zodoka, a bonafide Hall-of-Famer, can still handle the bat and the glove. Zodoka batted only .275, but scored 92 runs, hit 23 out of the park and drove in 83 runs, while playing like a Gold Glover. Dickens also has a find in rookie LF Mike Jaffe, who led the club with 26 homers, 89 RBIs and a .316 batting average. Jaffe also scored 86 runs. The Middlefield Roosters (66-88) had a lot to crow about last year with a surprising jump from the basement to third place, but Smitty Michaels' ballclub quickly dispelled any ideas of grandeur this season with a quick return to the RU West dungeon and eighth place, 19 games behind. The Roosters top players were starter Danny Stewart (16-16 3.01), 2B Jim Rose (.268/25/76/89/25 SB) and CF John Hartung (.257/20/75/92/19 SB).